Looking at a record of 0-9 in the Pacific-10 Conference (18-18 overall), it’s easy to see a struggling Oregon softball club. But a closer look at the score of the games and the quality of opponents reveals a team that may be on the verge of breaking through for its first conference wins.
The faces of the team may reveal frustration from their nine consecutive losses, but because only three of those losses were by more than two runs and four games were decided by one run, they do not show desperation.
“We’re not panicking, but there is a sense of urgency that it is time to put it all together,” first-year head coach Brent Rincon said. “I’m pretty happy with where we are, but I’m frustrated that we haven’t broken into the win column in the conference. But the attitude of the players and their desire to be successful has been great.”
Junior shortstop Lynsey Haij, who leads the team with 20 runs, and the rest of the Ducks know that they are close to turning the outcome of close games in their favor.
“I think we are a little down being 0-9 in the Pac-10, but we have to look past that and look at the positive things that we’ve gotten out of the games,” Haij said. “They are only beating us by a couple of runs, and we are only a key hit away.”

If Oregon can put a game in the win column, Rincon expects other victories to ensue.
“It’s time to pick up the pace a little bit and get some victories,” he said. “Winning is contagious and losing is contagious, so if everything comes together and we can get a victory, I think we’ll see more follow. It’s just trying to get all three components — defense, offense and pitching — to all be there on the same day and then at that point, we are a pretty tough team to beat.”
Despite the rough Pac-10 schedule, the mood in the Oregon clubhouse remains positive, and the ever-important team chemistry continues to be excellent. Unlike last year’s squad, which was 1-20 in the Pac-10 and struggled with chemistry problems, attitudes of the players this year toward the season and each other have allowed the team to progress.
“Team chemistry is only going to make it easier,” junior Andrea Vidlund said. “We know we can do it, we just need to stay with it.”

Friday marks the beginning of a hectic stretch of days for Oregon. The Ducks will play 10 games in 10 days.
After traveling to Seattle to face No. 10 Washington on Friday, the team will travel to No. 2 UCLA for Saturday and Sunday games, immediately followed by a Monday double header at Portland State. The Ducks will have Tuesday off before hosting a double header of their own against Portland State on Wednesday.
April 26 begins a weekend in Arizona where the Ducks will face the No. 1 Wildcats on Friday and No. 6 Arizona State on Saturday and Sunday.
“It’s going to be a grind from a time perspective,” Rincon said. “The kids are going to have to focus academically and athletically in order to be successful.”